Flexible spout closure device

ABSTRACT

A closure device for a fluid-filled container is provided with a resealable flexible spout that opens substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container. The spout is held closed by two lips on the closure device and is released by applying radial pressure to the sides of the closure device. When released the flexible spout is automatically fully opened by springs located on each side of the spout.

United States Patent [191 Moen 1 FLEXIBLE SPOUT CLOSURE DEVICE [76] Inventor: George A. Moen, 827 W. 26th Ave.,

Anchorage, Alaska [22] Filed: Apr. 12, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 350,542

[52] US. Cl. 222/513, 222/528 [51] Int. Cl B67d 3/00 [58] Field of Search 222/517, 527 T, 530, 536,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,026,828 5/1912 Pierce 222/528 1,230,498 6/1917 Martin 222/517 X 2,314,167 3/1943 222/484 X 3,163,337 12/1964 222/484 X 3,181,743 5/1965 Libit et al. 222/530 X Jan. 14, 1975 3,278,095 10/1966 Johns 222/528 X 3,516,581 6/1970 Micallef 222/529 3,655,105 4/1972 Johns 222/484 Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Francis J. Bartuska Attorney, Agent, or FirmLawrence E. Laubscher [57] ABSTRACT A closure device for a fluid-filled container is provided with a resealable flexible spout that opens substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container. The spout is held closed by two lips on the closure device and is released by applying radial pressure to the sides of the closure device. When released the flexible spout is automatically fully opened by springs located on each side of the spout.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures FLEXIBLE SPOUT CLOSURE DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a closure device for a container and relates more particularly to a closure device having a dispensing spout for bottles.

After a fluid containing bottle has been opened, it is frequently desirable to provide a device for pouring the fluid from the bottle and for resealing the opened bottle. Numerous closures of this type exist in the prior art, however, it has been found advantageous to provide an easily insertable closure device having a resealable dispensing spout which will automatically open fully when it is released. Prior art closures do not provide this combination of advantageous features.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A closure device having a neck portion to fit into the top of a container is provided with a flexible pouring spout having an open and a closed position and positioned on the closure so that the spout is-in communication with a discharge opening in a side wall of the closure body. The flexible spout is held in the closed position by resilient lip means whichprotrude from the clo-- sure and extend over at least one edge of the flexible spout. When released from the resilient lip means the spout is urged into the open position by biasingmeans bearing against theflexible spout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a closure device having a spout in an open position in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a top plan view of th'e'closure device of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a portionof FIG; 1 with the spout in a closed'position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 11 upon tipping the container. The'neck portion 13' also includes a plurality of drain hole openings l6"-l6' evenly spaced around the central opening '14 to drain fluid from the closure device back into the container. As shown the drain hold openings 16-16 may desirably be triangular in shape and oriented with thebase of each triangle facing in the inwardly radial direction.

The body portion 11 is formed with a flexible-flap portion 17 and'thecentral cavity of the bodyportion is covered with a thin liner 18. As shown inFIGS; land 2, the liner 18is attached-to the flap portion 17. The

flap portion 17 andthe liner l8form'a flexible pouring spout, indicated generally by numeral 19. The flexible spout 19 is in communication with a discharge opening 20 formed in the side wall of the body portion 11. The flexible pouring spout l9has a fluidconductive passage 21 to permit pouring of the container contents. The

flexible spout 19 has an open position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and a closed position shown in FIG. 3. In the open position the spout 19 is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container (not shown). Referring again to FIG. 1 the body portion 11 further includes a recessed portion 22 which underlies the flexible spout 19 when it is in the closed position. It will be apparent that the flap portion 17 compressesand seals the liner 18 against the recessed portion 22 when the flexible spout 19 is in the closed position.

The flexible spout 19 is biased in the open position by two springs 23 and 24, each having a first end seated on the recessed portion 22 and a second end bearing against the flap portion 17 of the flexible spout.

The recessed portion 22 is formed with an air vent hole 25 to facilitate easy pouring and to prevent airlock. The air vent hole 25 is also sealed by the liner 18 when the flexible spout 19 is in the closed position.

Referring to FIG. 3 the flexible spout 19 is held in the closed position by two resilient lips 27 and 28 located on the body portion 11 adjacent to the flap portion 17. The lips 27 and 28 protrude from the body portion (FIG. 2) and slightly overlap the flap portion 17 when it is in the closed position. The lips 27 and 28 are of sufficient strength to hold the spout l9 closed against the biasing force of the springs 23 and 24 (FIG. 1). During prolonged storage or transportation the spout 19 may be sealed with conventional plastic adhesive tape.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of this invention.

What is claimed is: l. A unitary closure and pouring device for a fluidreceiving container having a neck portion, said unitary device including a. a cylindrical body portion (11) formed of flexible material and containing a cavity; b. a cylindrical neck portion (13) integral with one end of said body portion, said cylindrical neck portion'being adapted for insertion within the neck portion of the container and containing a passage (14) for providing communication between the container and said cavity; c. means for discharging fluid from said cavity, comprising l. a flap (l7) defined in the side wall of, and extending circumferentially relative to, said body portion, said flap being operable between closed and open positions generally coplanar with and radially extending from said side wall, respectively; and

2. a flexible pouring conduit (19) carried by the inner surface of said flap, said flexible pouring conduit having at one end adjacent the free end of said flap'an outlet opening, said conduit having at the other end an inlet opening in communication with said cavity;

d. means for closingsaid pouring conduit when said flap is in the closed position, comprising means defining on said cylindrical body portion an integral recessed wall portion (22) adapted to cooperate with the free end of said flap portion, when said flap" portion is in the closed position, to pinch therebetween said flexible pouring conduit and thereby close said outlet opening; and

e. resilient lip means (27, 28) for retaining said flap inthe closed position, said resilient lip means inlet opening communicating with the inlet opening of said flexible pouring conduit.

3. A closure and pouring device as recited in claim 2, and further including resilient means (23, 24) biasing said flap toward the open position. 

1. A unitary closure and pouring device for a fluid-receiving container having a neck portion, said unitary device including a. a cylindrical body portion (11) formed of flexible material and containing a cavity; b. a cylindrical neck portion (13) integral with one end of said body portion, said cylindrical neck portion being adapted for insertion within the neck portion of the container and containing a passage (14) for providing communication between the container and said cavity; c. means for discharging fluid from said cavity, comprising
 1. a flap (17) defined in the side wall of, and extending circumferentially relative to, said body portion, said flap being operable between closed and open positions generally coplanar with and radially extending from said side wall, respectively; and
 2. a flexible pouring conduit (19) carried by the inner surface of said flap, said flexible pouring conduit having at one end adjacent the free end of said flap an outlet opening, said conduit having at the other end an inlet opening in communication with said cavity; d. means for closing said pouring conduit when said flap is in the closed position, comprising means defining on said cylindrical body portion an integral recessed wall portion (22) adapted to cooperate with the free end of said flap portion, when said flap portion is in the closed position, to pinch therebetween said flexible pouring conduit and thereby close said outlet opening; and e. resilient lip means (27, 28) for retaining said flap in the closed position, said resilient lip means including at least one resilient lip formed on said body portion for locking cooperation with the external surface of said flap when said flap is in the closed position.
 2. a flexible pouring conduit (19) carried by the inner surface of said flap, said flexible pouring conduit having at one end adjacent the free end of said flap an outlet opening, said conduit having at the other end an inlet opening in communication with said cavity; d. means for closing said pouring conduit when said flap is in the closed position, comprising means defining on said cylindrical body portion an integral recessed wall portion (22) adapted to cooperate with the free end of said flap portion, when said flap portion is in the closed position, to pinch therebetween said flexible pouring conduit and thereby close said outlet opening; and e. resilient lip means (27, 28) for retaining said flap in the closed position, said resilient lip means including at least one resilient lip formed on said body portion for locking cooperation with the external surface of said flap when said flap is in the closed position.
 2. A closure and pouring device as recited in claim 1, and further including a thin flexible liner covering the wall surfaces of said cavity, said liner having an outlet opening communicating with the inlet opening of said flexible pouring conduit.
 3. A closure and pouring device as reCited in claim 2, and further including resilient means (23, 24) biasing said flap toward the open position. 